Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-03-19
Albania Letter.


To the Chr onicle.
After weeks brisk work between
Florence and Sheffield ss siSa. IL :.s iat
ter place, we folded our tents Saturday
morning and took up our line Of march
northward. After twelve mile tramp
we reached the promised land' and
found Commissary Daily with his tents
pitched in small valley, surrounded by
high hills. Through this valley runs
the beautiful little stream bearing the
euphonious name OF "Indian Camp
Creek" Our encampment is within
fifty or sixty feet Of the water, and we
are lulled to sleep at night by the sound
of the splashing falls above us. At the
front OF our tent the water is probably
ten feet deep, and as clear as crystal.
As soon as we arrived we had to test
this places fishing qualities, and we're
rewarded by several nice little trout
perch and salmon.
Creeks seem to be very abundant in
this country, our party having crossed
two or three, and Shoal and Butler,
two large streams near us on the north.
From an agricultural point OF view, |
should say this part of the vineyard
was very little removed from the zero
mark. Old, worn out, clay hills scan
tily covered with briars and broom
sedge and long stretches of "barren"
land, with nothing on it but scrub oak
and hoop-pole timber, are visible on
every hand. Little patches of cotton,
corn and sorghum cane are about all
the products of this part OF the country.
Clover is almost an unknown fertilizer
here, and when land is sworn out" it
is usually turned out" to ,brambles.
Why this should be the case, can't
say, unless it be that the farmers have
not yet learned the value of good land,
and the secret OF preserving it, or Of
making it good. 1t is not owing to the
want of foundation, for red clay is the
predomnating soil.
Within quarter of mile OF our
camp, in the bed OF the creek, lies a
bed OF Asphalt, of very pure and beau
tiful type. The quantity of this rare
and valuable article of commerce, is
not known. If it exists to any large
extent, it would quickly enhance the
value of land here, and would make a
fortune for some enterprising person.
Jumps of lead ore, about the size OF
hens eggs, have been frequently picked
up around here by the old residents,
containing about 20 per cent of silver.
, It is believed by some that when the
white settlers first began making in
roads on the heretofore undisputed
possessions OF the Noble Red Man, "
that the said n. r. m. to mislead the
whites, and protect the secret of rich
vein of this valuable ore, scattered Jumps
and fragments over the hills at con-
siderable distance from the real mine,
About four miles southeast from here
is the flourishing little German settle
ment OF St. Florin." This colony has
been founded about ten years, and
now numbers about four hundred per-
sons. The members of the colony own
about 5000 acres OF land; and with the
t characteristic dutch thrift and energy
J they are making the desert to blossom
as the rose" Nearly every inhabitant
/ has his vineyard, and great deal o.
wine is made and sold by them. This
r town is neatly built, with tasty little
cottages, nice church, schoolhouse
, etc. A large grist mill is also success
fully operated here.
, We are camped now in part OF the
! country where Mormonism gained &
pretty strong foot hold several years
| ago. In my next letter / will try and
glue you little history connected with
them and their do;ngs hereabouts.
The farmers are bus:ly engaged
} in breaking land for corn and cotton,
, since spring has opened in earnest.
, To-day saw about half dozen men
blowing, and not single one Yves using
either a double team or turning pillow.
One man was breakinga an old broom
sedge field, that has been uncultivated
for five years, with single horse, and
a short bull-tongue pillow. This seems
to be the mode of blowing here nearly
altogether.
The small grain cropis looking well
what there is of it. Very little wheat
is raised in North Alabama, the average
crop being about ten bushels per acre.
PAUL ]. WYATT.
THE congratulatory sermon OF DR..